Dealing with the inconvenience of a sprained ankle can definitely take a toll on you if you don’t handle it correctly. It can also leave you in a lot of pain that you’ll be wishing you could ease immediately. But you don’t have to sit in that type of misery for long.
If you’re dealing with an incident that left you an ankle injury keep reading. Here are 5 smart tips on how to treat a sprained ankle and get rid of the pain.
1. Use R.I.C.E. Method
The R.I.C.E. method is a well-known medical approach for mild injuries. It is an acronym for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Most doctors will tell you this is one of the best tactics on how to treat a sprained ankle.
You’ll want to make sure you are doing all of the parts of the method to get the speediest results for recovery.
Rest – Try to take it easy and don’t engage in activities that could put extra strain and pressure on the ankle.
Ice – Use an ice compress on the sprain for up to 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Repeat this every two to three hours. Do not leave the ice on overnight or during sleep.
Compression- You can wrap an elastic bandage around the sprained ankle for compression. This can help to avoid and alleviate swelling. Be cautious of how tightly you wrap the bandage so that you will not interrupt blood circulation.
Elevation- Another way of dealing with swelling is elevating the leg above heart level. You can do this during the day, as well as at night.
2. Schedule X-Rays
Scheduling an x-ray is the best way to know exactly how minor or severe your injury actually is. One of the best ways of knowing how to treat a sprained ankle is to be sure that it is, in fact, just a sprain.
An injury could become worse or take a longer time to heal if you are caring for it in the wrong way.
3. Wear a Support Brace
The best way to make sure you don’t add more tension, discomfort and pressure to your ankle is to give it extra support. You can accomplish this by wearing a support brace or sports tape.
If you need more stabilization, consider utilizing crutches until you feel comfortable enough to walk on your own.
4. Take Medication
Sometimes the pain may feel overwhelming and external methods might not seem to work quick enough. In this case, you can try over the counter medication.
You can also request your doctor to write you a prescription for pain relievers.
5. Get Therapy
It’s also important to consider how to treat a sprained ankle after you’ve started to heal. An effective way of making sure you don’t accidentally re-injure yourself during this fragile time is to go to physical therapy.
Being under the supervision of trained professionals will benefit you in the long run.
Need More Help With How to Treat a Sprained Ankle?
After your doctors have confirmed that your ankle is sprained, you should immediately begin to care for it appropriately. Ask a medical professional for more clarification if you’re unsure of any instructions on how to treat a sprained ankle.
If you feel like something more serious may be going on and you need immediate medical assistance, do not hesitate to contact us for quality medical care. We are available to provide assistance seven days per week.